ITV Oscars Broadcast Plagued by Unwatchable Sound Issues, Viewers Fume
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony, broadcast on ITV in the UK, was marred by significant technical difficulties that left viewers branding the coverage almost unwatchable. The event, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night, saw Hollywood gather to celebrate cinematic achievements, but audio problems quickly overshadowed the festivities for British audiences.
Social Media Erupts Over Audio Failures
Not long into the show, fans took to social media platforms to voice their frustrations about the poor audio quality. Complaints centred on horrid bleeping noises and a general deterioration in sound, with many describing the experience as unbearable. One viewer exclaimed, pleeeeease sort out the sound for the Oscars coverage - it’s basically unwatchable !!!, while another noted, Thought it was only me. It's awful. Additional comments highlighted the issue, such as oscars on itv is both awful squeaking noises and awful sound quality. yay! and @ITV why does the audio for the Oscars coverage sound so dreadful? The audio sounds like it's strained through a thick sock. The Daily Mail has reached out to ITV for an official comment regarding these technical glitches.
Host and Nominees Shine Despite Setbacks
Despite the audio woes, the ceremony proceeded with Conan O'Brien, 62, returning as host for a second consecutive year, having taken over from Jimmy Kimmel. The nominations were led by Ryan Coogler's horror film Sinners, which set a record with 16 nods, the most in Academy Awards history. It competed for Best Picture alongside nine other films: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan starred in Sinners as twin brothers facing supernatural evil in 1930s Mississippi, vying for Best Actor against Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent). For Best Actress, Irish star Jessie Buckley emerged as the frontrunner for Hamnet, contending with Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I would Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia).
Key Winners and Notable Achievements
Paul Thomas Anderson's black comedy action-thriller, One Battle After Another, earned 13 nominations, including Best Director and nods for DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn in supporting roles. The film follows an ex-revolutionary forced to rescue his daughter from a corrupt military officer. Other highlights included:
- Best Picture: Sinners
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan - Weapons
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan - Sinners
- Best Director: Ryan Coogler - Sinners
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn - One Battle After Another
- Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
- Best International Feature: The Secret Agent (Brazil)
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
- Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
The ceremony also recognized achievements in categories such as Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound, with Sinners and other nominees securing multiple awards. Despite the technical issues, the event celebrated a diverse range of films and talent, underscoring the resilience of the film industry in the face of broadcast challenges.
